UPSC Mains 2016 · GS I · Q18 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.

हिन्दी में

सिन्धु जल संधि का एक विवरण प्रस्तुत कीजिए तथा बदलते हुए द्विपक्षीय संबंधों के संदर्भ में उसके पारिस्थितिक, आर्थिक एवं राजनीतिक निहितार्थों का परीक्षण कीजिए।

Water

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “India's water resources have witnessed rapid depletion due to a mix of economic, geographic, and political factors. Explain and discuss its implications.”

Shubham KumarAIR 1 · CSE 2020 · 242 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

Average water availability since Independence has decreased considerably and is projected to decrease further. Now → 1700 cubic metres of water is available per person annually.

Body · points

Diagram
- Bar chart depicting water availability per person (m3/person) on y-axis vs years (1947, 2020, 2050) on x-axis - 1947: Bar reaches 5000 - 2020: Bar reaches 1700 - 2050: Bar reaches < 1000

Economic factors

  1. Industrialization — Industries need huge amount of water. Eg - automobile industry

  2. Energy Generation → Electricity. Eg → Coal power plants consumes a lot of water

  3. Urbanization → more concrete → no Ground water recharge through percolation

  4. Changing living habits

Diagram
- Changing living habits - Flushing - Cleaning - Gardening - Recreational activities - water sports

all consumes water

Geographic Factors

  1. Population Explosion — nearly Quadrupled since independence
  2. Climate change → Rainfall pattern change. More droughts & floods. Hot springs dying
  3. Deforestation → absorption of water less.
  4. Unplanned growth & settlement

Political Factors

  1. Agriculture not according to agri-climatic zones. 80% water consumed in agriculture.
  2. MSP (Minimum Support Price) → incentivises more consumption of water.
  3. No holistic policy as of now.
  4. Water → state subject → not co-ordination.
  5. Water disputes → inter state.
  6. Lax regulation related to Industries → water sources like rivers got polluted.
  7. Heavy extraction of Groundwater → Pollution:

Implications

  1. NITI Aayog → has said by 2020, 600 million of people would be in water scare condition.
  2. Increased water disputes. Eg Cauvery dispute.
  3. Regional instability over sharing of water.
  4. Farming → drought → suicides.
  5. Health of people suffering.

Close · a framework

To achieve sustainable Goal of Drinking water & sanitation we need to manage this precious resource effectively.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper I, Q18. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.